We don't know what we would have
done without this.
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Aircraft Support Bogie MI5/6
 As our fuselage was being built in a single garage, where access round it
was limited, we had to provide a support that would hold the lower half while the other
parts were added and also simplify access to both sides. We were also unhappy with the
design of the standard Europa trailer and concerned about the vulnerability of the
aircraft when on it. We decided, at an early stage, that we would build our own custom
designed trailer. This trailer would be enclosed therefore the wings had to be removed
from the aircraft and placed in the trailer before the fuselage. Once the wings are
carried in and secured to the walls of the trailer in their rack, the fuselage in its
bogie is walked in tail first. The tailwheel is placed into a small trolley that runs in
the groove up the trailer. The support bogie runs in and is guided into tight fitting
slots in the side of the tailer. Just as the tailwheel locks into a catch at the front of
the trailer. More of trailer design when we write up our trailer. This wheelbarrow has
retractable wheels which then ground casters that allow the fuselage to be pushed around
as it is being built. This is a big advantage in a confined garage. We built most of the
structure of the plane in a single car garage and it was this support bogey that made it
possible. |
We therefore set out to achieve:-
- A bogie that would support the fuselage while
building and enable it to be moved all ways to enable access in a confined space.
- A bogie that would be simple to slide under the
fuselage and support it while the wings were removed.
- A bogie that would enable the fuselage be easily
guided into the trailer.
- A bogie that could be locked into the trailer and
prevent the fuselage rocking or slipping out.
Our solution comprised six main features:-
- The bogie would be in two halve enabling it to be
slid under the fuselage from each side and locked together.
- It would have castors on the front of each half
thus facilitating the sliding of the halves under the fuselage and enabling it to be moved
sideways in the garage.
- It would have a jacking system enabling the
fuselage to be lifted up and supported on two large wheels on the bogie with a wide track.
This would provide the best lateral support and ease of moving the fuselage into the
trailer.
- It would have a large padded support area in
contact with the fuselage to spread the load.
- It would have to be attached rigidly to the
fuselage to prevent longitudinal movement while being moved into the trailer yet not put
any strain on it during heavy breaking by the towing vehicle.
- It would have a tapered base board that would
engage in grooves in the trailer and jam tight.
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Our Solution
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This shows the making of the foam
bed. It was made by positioning the bogie under the fuselage in the correct place, having
first covered the underside with plastic bin liner material, then temporarily stapling
cardboard edges on to the bogie base board to fill the gap between it and the fuselage.
Expanding foam was then injected into the cavity under the fuselage from aerosol cans and
allowed to expand and form itself to perfectly fit the bottom of the fuselage. When firm
the excess was trimmed off and covered with a soft "Lyonella" material. |
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This shows the bogie from the front
showing the front castors and main wheel on one side. The curved side supports are
upholstered soft foam. |
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This shows the main wheel in the
retracted position and the weight would be taken on the castors if it were fitted to the
aircraft. |
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This shows the main wheel in the
jacked up position and the weight would be taken by these wheels when fitted to the
aircraft and the main wheel of the aircraft would be clear of the ground. |
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This shows a close up view of the
giant over centre clasp, in the closed position, which clamps the two halves of the bogie
together. |
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This shows a close up view of the
giant over centre clasp, in the open position. The large alignment peg and ring which
guides the two halves of the bogie together. We have crunched our shins on this peg
countless times but it has to be that big to make it easy to locate the two halves under
the airoplane. |
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This shows the nut plate which is
bonded on to one of the baggage bay rear floor supports in the bottom of the fuselage, up
into which is screwed the attachment bolts which hold the bogie on to the fuselage. |
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This is a close up of the
attachment bolts which shows the conical allignment collar and large load support plate. |
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This shows how the bolt engages in
the keyhole slot plate in the bogie base board. |
| Method of operation The bogie attachment bolts are firstly screwed loosely
into the bottom of the fuselage and the Starboard half bogie slid under the fuselage. The
rear of this bogie is then lifted up over the tapered collar on the starboard bolt. This
holds it while the peg at the front of the port half bogie is fitted into the ring of the
other at the front and large clasp loosely engaged. The rear of the bogie is then lifted
on to the port bolt. The large front clasp is then locked fully. The bogie is then jacked
up by lowering the main wheels so that the fuselage is sitting snuggly in its cradle. This
lift also lifts the U/C main wheel clear of the ground. The rear bolts are then
screwed up to hold the rear of the bogie in place. The bogie and fuselage now move as one.
The wings and elevators are then removed and placed in the trailer. The fuselage is then
manoeuvred into the trailer tail first. The tail wheel being placed in a small bogie which
runs in a track up the middle of the trailer. The fuselage is then pushed (we eventually
plan to have an electric winch to pull it - - for our old age!!) into the trailer until
the bogie main wheels approach the ramp. We then look through a small window at the front
of the trailer and move the it sideways to line up the fuselage central with the trailer.
The fuselage is then pushed fully into the trailer until the tailwheel bogie latches in a
catch at the end of the track and the main bogie engages into grooves in the side of the
trailer. At the same time it has been arranged that the main wheel of the aircraft abutts
a sturdy upright chassis member in the trailer floor and thus takes the full force of any
heavy breaking of the towing vehicle or, heaven forbid, any crash force.
When the Europa is on the bogie the
undercarriage can be raised and lowered when you are sitting in it. When the undercarriage
is up the main bogie wheels can be lowered allowing the row of castors at the front to
ground and provide movement in any direction. Typically pushing over to one side of the
garage so that you can get at a job on the the side.
The flexibility of this set up allows rigging of
the Europa with one of us and one rigger u/t. It also allows positioning in a hanger very
precisely. Well worth the trouble to build it. |
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